Saluka Premachandra excels in junior international TT

Monday, 3 October 2022 23:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Saluka Premachandra in action at the World Table Tennis Youth Contender tournament in Darwin

Sri Lanka’s Saluka Matheesha Premachandra recorded a first for Sri Lanka when he became first Sri Lankan player to succeed beyond round of 16 (pre-quarter finals) in two age categories in the singles event of the World Table Tennis Youth Contender tournament concluded in Darwin, Australia.

Saluka won up to quarter-finals in the Boys Under-15 age category and succeeded to the round of 16 (pre-quarter final) in the Boys under-17 age category.

In the Under-15 age category Saluka beat Sebastian Lai (Australia) 3-0 (11/7, 11/6, 11/4) and Luke Chen (Australia) 3-0 (11/6, 11/7, 11/9) before losing the quarter-finals to Australia’s Chulong Nie in four sets (11/9, 8/11, 6/11, 6/11).

In the Under-17 category Saluka playing in Group 6 won against Ray Zang of Australia 3-0 (11/9, 11/5, 11/4), but lost to GOH Zuo Xun 3-1 (12-10, 9-11, 4/11, 8/11) and Lucas Lum of Australia 3-1 (11/8, 8/11, 5/11, 9/11) and the pre-quarterfinals to Yang Ze Yi of Singapore 3-0 (4/11, 5/11, 4/11). Saluka is coached by Hasitha Samaraweera, a certified ITTF High Performance coach. Under his coaching Muthumali won up to round of 16 in the Asian Championship 2021.

Saluka has been playing table tennis since the age of eight and his talent was discovered by his alma mater TT teacher in charge Shamali Wijewardhana and former Ananda College coach N.H. Perera. Saluka was coached for most part of his TT journey by Jothipala Samaraweera.

Hasitha Samaraweera started coaching him in 2020 and has made him a competitor at international level.